Luger with no date stamp

[Yanik213]

Hello everyone I’m new to this forum and new to owning a luger, i was hoping some of you can give me some insight on what i have, year, worth, caliber etc. Thanks in advance!

[LU1900]

Wellcome
Erfurt manufacture with a new barrel , acceptance stamp and year seems to be ground off , but make from 1916 , 1917 or 1918

[Doubs]

A nice looking Luger that has an Erfurt toggle train and frame but the trigger has been replaced (different number) and the barrel is a replacement.

The lack of a date likely means it was reworked post WW1. Caliber is impossible to determine from your pictures but the fact that it's been re-barreled suggests that it MAY be 30 caliber (7.65mm). Many WW1 9mm Lugers were converted to 30 caliber and use a cartridge like the bottle neck ones below. On the far right is a 9mm.

[Dwight Gruber]

The frame, receiver, breechblock and barrel have the Suhl commercial proof stamp set.


--Dwight

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by Dwight Gruber

The frame, receiver, breechblock and barrel have the Suhl commercial proof stamp set.


--Dwight

see Dwights comments

[Mac Cat]

It looks like a commercial luger to me.
I wondered if the toggle a replacement.

[Edward Tinker]

Erfurt made no commercial guns - so it would be a post-war gun sold to the USA OR just a barrel change in the USA

Or as said, a different toggle

[Bill_in_VA]

Let’s see some photos of the top, left, and right sides of the cannon, please.

[Yanik213]

Thank you all! I will post more pictures in hopes that helps. Curious to know why you would think it’s a barrel replacement since the upper and lower have matching numbers?

[Yanik213]

More pics

[HerrKaiser]

Well, it is because the features of the upper are...unique to say the least. As you mention, all the numbers do appear to match. However, the crown N and "Made in Germany" stamped on the barrel, as well as the blank chamber, indicate that much of the upper was commercial instead of military production. The toggle train is Erfurt Production, and Erfurt did not make commercial Lugers, only guns for the military. Your sideplate also appears to be Erfurt military, and the top of the chamber has an "artillery cut" for an LP-08-which had numerous manufacturers. I dont think I have ever seen a Luger configuration like this.

[Yanik213]

Is that bad or good lol (never seen a Luger like this)

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by HerrKaiser

However, the crown N and "Made in Germany" stamped on the barrel, as well as the blank chamber, indicate that much of the upper was commercial instead of military production.

The receiver notch for an Artillery rear sight indicates that it was military production. IMO, everything except the replacement barrel was military.

Below is my 1920's rework of an Erfurt Luger with a new 7.65mm barrel and the date removed. Everything except the barrel is matching. I acquired this in the late 1980's and it was imported by CAI as marked on the barrel. They list it as an M24 suggesting that it came from Finland.

The serial number is in the "i" block so it was made in 1917 or 1918. In Still's "Imperial Lugers", no "i" block 1916 Erfurt Lugers were REPORTED above the "g" block while the "i" block was used in both 1917 and 1918.

[Ron Wood]

The receiver is military with the date ground off.
Ron

[DavidJayUden]

Barrel looks a bit short. Has it been established if it is .30 cal. or 9mm?
dju

[Yanik213]

I have no idea what caliber it is, i put a 9m luger in the clip and it seemed to be a perfect fit but again i have no experience in this type of firearm. I don’t think it’s a reproduction from the stamps but i could be wrong, that’s why I’m here trying to get answers. I’m getting conflicting answers so now I’m even more confused lol. I really do appreciate all and any info. Thanks again everyone!

[DonVoigt]

It is fairly easy to check the bore size.
Just place the 9mm round in the muzzle and see if it is close to fitting; or even measure the bore with calipers, or see if a standard wooden pencil will go into the bore.

Post a picture of the muzzle from straight ahead- one can usually see the thicker wall of the 7,65mm even in a picture.

Magazines are the same for 9mm and 7,65mm cartridges- so the cartridge fitting the mag is not an indicator.

[mrerick]

Both 9mm and .30 cartridges will fit into the Luger magazine. The barrel determines what the gun will chamber and fire.

The barrel profile and markings don't look like one that left the Erfurt factory on the gun. Erfurt only made military contract guns.

There are what look to be Erfurt acceptance markings on many parts we can see in your photos, including the frame, but not on the barrel.

The aluminum base magazine is later vintage.

There is an illustration of how to determine the caliber (9mm Luger or .30 Luger) in our FAQ PDF document. Why not download a copy? Just click on the FAQ link at the top of every forum page and follow it to the item with the PDF files.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by mrerick

The aluminum base magazine is later vintage.

I think you're confusing the OP's pistol with the one I posted.

[Lugerdoc]

Yanik, The horizonal C/N on both your left side receiver and frame indicate to me that this luger is a Kreighof rework of a 9mm WW1 military luger, into a 7,65mm commerical luger in the 1920s for the US market. TH